4Points BBQ in Winterport featuring Hal - the NEVAH Banjo Guy

Hey … friends and fans of NEVAH. I hope the guys in band don't mind but I just wanted to let you know that this Sunday, October 6th, I will be appearing at the 4 Points BBQ in Winterport … doin' a solo-ish-like guitar/banjo/singin' thing …

… from 5:30pm to 8:30pm

So, if you are around and would like some amazing food, hang out with some really cool folks (I understand several of the NEVAH guys will be attending) … and listen to and sing along with a few "familiar-esque" tunes. I'd love to see ya.

Hal - NEVAH banjo Guy at 4Points BBQ

Thanks …

Hal
the NEVAH banjo guy

Thank you, Thank you - NEVAH CD Release Party

On the behalf of the NEVAH band I would like to thank everyone for making our CD release party a fun filled successful evening.  As sometimes happens in the "heat of the moment" (great name for a song, oh yeah already taken) I forgot to thank some very important people, our wives, David Russell, and Scotty Reynolds.  Our wives have always been wonderful, understanding and supportive of our musical efforts, allowing us the time it takes to put it all together.

NEVAH CD Release Party at Next Generation Theatre

David Russell, who has been an enormous help to us at every show we play.  David schleps the equipment in and out of these venues, which in some cases is no easy task, and we could not thank him enough for his help and "sunny" smile, making a mundane task pleasant.

Scott Reynolds has willingly stepped up to the plate to help us over the years run our sound.  He has come to our practices to hear what we are trying to sound like, learns our songs so he knows who does what when, and listens intently during the show trying to find those correct levels and blends to make us sound as "good as possible."

We are truly blessed to have these people in our "musical" lives.

Additional thanks to Tracey for providing such a fantastic venue as "The Next Generation Theatre" for us, and all the other performing arts enthusiasts, enabling us to express ourselves in a comfortable and warm surrounding.

 In closing, literally and figuratively, we do "GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS"

Thanks again … "Phil the bass player."

NEVAH's CD Launch Concert & Party is Coming to Next Gen

Oh Yeah … the long awaited

NEVAH CD Launch Concert & Party 

 – is happening – 

Saturday - Sept. 21, 2013

… we'd like to see each and everyone of our fans and friends at the Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, Maine - starting at 7:00 PM

You can call the …

Next Gen Theatre: 207• 989 • 7100

… and ask to be put in the "reservation book" 

(how cool is that - to be put in the "res-book")

and can even pre-purchase your tickets by phone 

if you'd like.

Hope to see you all there, it's going to be a blast … we've got a lot of surprises in store.

NEVAH

NEVAH

is appearing at the 

BLACK ANCHOR VILLAGE PUB

 in Blue Hill

This coming Friday - Sept 20th, 2013

From … 8:30 - 10:30 pm

… come down and join us for a fun evening of NEVAH music.

FYI: from what we've heard the food and drink at the 

Black Anchor is amazing

see you there …

Hal

the NEVAH banjo guy

Yens Kruger Awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music

Hey … I have to let all our NEVAH friends know that another good friend of ours, Yens Kruger was just awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Music …

Very cool indeed … here's a link to the announcement:

http://bluegrasstoday.com/jens-kruger-receives-2013-steve-martin-prize/

… with some terrific video of Yens on banjo, Uwe on guitar and Joel on bass. If you have never heard the KRUGER BROTHERS - I highly recommend catching one of their concerts, whether at a music festival or in performance with one of the numerous symphony orchestras playing Yen's original compositions.

Please also visit their website: http://www.krugerbrothers.com/

Two years ago, Richard, Larry and I (Hal the NEVAH banjo guy) attended the first ever Kruger Brothers Academy. We had a blast … met terrific folks … learned a lot, played a lot of music and shared an amazing experience with everyone in attendance along with Joel, Uwe and Yens. When you visit the site … check it out.

Julie Macie - KB Academy 1
Larry, Hal, Brenden Macie, Richard, Danny Stewart
Jammin'

Julie Macie - Photo -
A large Jam at KB Academy 1
Jens at far right talking to Brenden

To all our amazing NEVAH friends, fans and family …

It's Official …

NEVAH's CD Launch Party

September 21, 2013 - 7:00 pm

 … at The Next Generation Theatre

39 Center St., Brewer, Maine

For tickets please call: 207.989.7100

Ticket Price: $10.00

NEVAH - CD Launch Party Poster - Sept 21, 2013 - 7:00pm

For further information you can contact us directly: nevahband@gmail.com

Hope to see you all there …

The NEVAH Band

Its finally Here!

We have in our hands NEVAH'S first CD, "Tales from NEVAHLAND" an atypical album Part 1.  It features 6 original tunes; road less traveled, driftin with the tide, last bus to bangor, I lean left - you lean right, hometown open road, and rare but serious side effect.  We are so excited to finally have something for those of you who have asked "do you have any CD's?"  We can finally answer with a serious "yes" instead of our previous tongue in cheek answer about the  Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffet, Crosby Stills & Nash CD's we have in our cars that we would part with.

Front Cover - NEVAH's First CD

So NEVAH friends mark this date down, Saturday, September 21st at the Next Generation Theatre our official "CD RELEASE PARTY"  We thought this day would NEVAH come, especially because of the Mayan calendar thing, but it is. "whew"  We hope to see you there, friends of old, and new, lets pack the house.   "Phil the bass man".

Bk Cover - NEVAH's First CD 

Greenville GAZEBO Concert presents NEVAH - Thursday August 1st

NEVAH will be performing this thursday - AUGUST 1st in Greenville for the …

GREENVILLE GAZEBO CONCERT Series …

NEVAH in Greenville, Maine

August 1, 2013 - 7 to 9 pm

The NEVAH Concert runs from 7 to 9pm …

"The Annual Gazebo Concerts continue at Moosehead Lake on Thursdays. They will be held at the Gazebo in the Katahdin Parking Lot at 12 Lily Bay Rd. Greenville with a Rain Venue at the Center for Moosehead History. This week features Nevah (Soulful Rock, Newgrass, Bluegrass). FMI Contact Greenville Town Office at 207-695-2421 or info@mooseheadlake.org."

Hope to see you there …

Hal
the NEVAH banjo guy

4Points Barbecue in Winterport July 28th

Hey NEVAH fans and friends …

Just a reminder to please put in your calendar 

 THIS COMING SUNDAY 

– JULY 28th –

to come on down to Winterport …

for the 4POINTS BBQ

… LAWNCHAIR CONCERT SERIES … 

presenting

– NEVAH – 

show is 6 to 9 PM

(for further information call 207-223-9929 or email: nevahband@gmail.com) 

St. Albans NEVAH Concert - is ON - Rain or Shine

Just a quick heads up to the NEVAH Friends and Fans …

This Saturday's St. Albans Thundering Valley Raceway NEVAH Concert 

will go on rain or shine … 

HOWEVER … 

if it's raining the show will be held at the

Palmyra Community Center

768 Main St., Palmyra

(right down the road from the raceway)

The show is still from 7 to 9pm

For further information … please contact 207-938-3007

NEVAH in CONCERT this Saturday - The Show Will Go On
 – rain location –

The Die is Cast

Well it seems like forever and a day but our CD master and all of the art work is in the hands of Klarity MultiMedia situated in North Vassalboro, Maine, that's right North Vassalboro, and you can get there from here.  So within the next few weeks NEVAH's CD will hit the streets thanks to Gary Coull and the crew at Klarity.

Gary and his staff have recorded, produced, mastered, and replicated CD's for Herman Noone of Herman's Hermits, The Monkeys, and Maine's own David Mallett and Debbie Meyers, so NEVAH is extremely happy to be part of Klarity's Book.

It is funny how things work out as we originally had hoped to do everything in house at Main Street Music Studios but Brad O'Brien decided to get out of the reproduction business and we were back to square one looking for a Maine based company.  We racked our brain and then our pedal steel player Jack mentioned Klarity and it dawned on me that I had all of their contact information from back when I put on the Winterport Music Festival.  I then went straight to my filing cabinet at work and lo and behold there was Klarity's promo package outlining all of the fantastic services they offer.  I forwarded that to Hal, our banjo player, who had put together all of the art work, photos, and jacket liner and sent them off to Gary who quickly priced out a, as he called it "cadillac" package based on the wonderful stuff Hal had sent.  The deal was sealed and now it is so close we can "taste it."

Stayed tuned, always, for our upcoming CD release extravaganza party date and we hope to see you in St. Albans on Saturday, July 20th, in Winterport at 4 Points BBQ on Sunday, July 28th, in Greenville on Thursday, August 1st, or better yet at all 3.   Phil the BassMan

LAWN CHAIR CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS NEVAH - JULY 28th

Oh YEAH … Sunday July 28th … Winterport, Maine's very own 4POINTS BBQ 

LAWN CHAIR CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS…

– NEVAH –

For further information contact us at nevahband@gmail.com 

or visit our FB site: nevah

or contact the 4Points BBQ: 207-223-9929

Thundering Valley Raceway Presents NEVAH in Concert

Hey there folks … 
              NEVAH has a fun packed month of July … 

On Saturday - July 20th - NEVAH is appearing at the

Thundering Valley Raceway

for

St. Albans 200th Anniversary Celebration.

The OUTDOOR CONCERT is being held at the Thundering
Valley Raceway Track - with NEVAH performing on a huge
flatbed from 7pm to 9pm. I'll definitely need my glasses.

Lots O' fun stuff happening before the show - so come early. 

GoKart Racing starts at 12:30 and runs to 4pm
then a Bounce House and Dunk Tank from 4pm to 7 pm.

Hope to see you all there! 

Hal
the NEVAH banjo guy

NEVAH in Concert at the Thundering Valley Raceway

NEVAH to perform for Bangor's "Maine Veterans Home"

This evening - Monday July 8th - NEVAH is performing for the residents of the Maine Veterans Home located right off of the Hogan Road in Bangor. 

We've performed there every year for at least 8 + years … our way of giving a little something back to those who gave so much to us.

Maine's Veterans Home Entrance

Hal, Richard, Jack, Phil, Ed, Eric and Larry
from a previous Veterans Home Performance

 Jack from a previous Veterans Home Performance

Eric and Larry from a previous Veterans Home Performance

The Home Stretch

It is amazing to me how time flies when you are working on something that is a "labor of love" and it is  very satisfying to see that finish line coming into view.  NEVAH'S first CD is now mastered and we are working on the art work for the cover and insert and looking for a Maine company to reproduce it for us.  We would like to thank Eric Ferguson for the great work he did in Mastering our CD.  It was great fun watching him perform his magic, exchanging ideas about sound, and having an experienced set of ears listening to our material and bringing out the sound we were looking for.  Of course a lot of the credit for the recording can be placed in lap of Andrew Clifford who was able to capture the "inane antics" of NEVAH and successfully translate that to the CD as our recording engineer.

While I am updating you about our recording journey I would also like to let you know about our upcoming performances.  On June 28th we have the privilege of entertaining the next graduating class of interns from Eastern Maine Medical Center.  Our own Doc Brown, percussionist by night doctor by day and night, happens to be the interns instructor and they love seeing him in a different light.  July 20th we travel to St. Albans to help them celebrate during St. Albans Days.  On July 28th we are excited to be part of the "Lawn Chair Summer Concert Series" at 4 Points BBQ & Blueshouse.  For 4 of us this is a hometown concert and a chance to feast on some great food and drink with our friends and neighbors.  Then on August 1st we hit the road to Greenville to be part of their summer Gazebo Concert Series.  If you have never been there you do not know what you are missing as I like to say it is one of the most spectacular views in the world.

No matter what you plan for the summer make sure you get out and support all of the multiple musical offerings our great State has to offer and enjoy the sounds of the vast number of great local musicians who play for the "Pure Joy" of entertaining.  Stayed "tuned" for upcoming news about our CD Release Party.  Until next time, Phil the bass man.

Some Guys from NEVAH were HEaRD at 4 Pts BBQ Fundraiser

Just wanted to share this with my f - ah - riends …

Last night a few "Guys from NEVAH" … not to be confused with NEVAH … I called us HEaRD - as in wanna be - (Hal, Ed, Richard, Dick) … performed at the 4 Points BBQ Fundraiser in Winterport for the folks in Oklahoma impacted by this past weeks devastating tornados.

Hal, Dick (in the bk grnd) Richard and Ed
H-E-a-R-D

It was a blast (a tad damp, but that didn't impact us in the least) … rockin' Mandolin, smokin' Flute & Penny Whistle, flamin' Drums, a banjo - some sweet vocals - a wide variety of cool tunes. 

… and a very special thank you goes out to Karen (Kadee) Reynolds for additional vocal harmonies, tambourine, and other instruments of fun.

We also want to thank John from 4 Pts BBQ for holding the fundraiser and having us join the long list of tremendous musicians who played from noon until 10 pm.

4 Pts BBQ Poster for Oklahoma Tornado Relief
- designed by Ann Correia -

… and I might add that NEVAH looks forward to our July 28th appearance at 4 points barbecue - hope to you all there!

And by the way, I met a new friend, an amazing graphic artist - who designs the posters and T's for 4 points and creates unbelievable visual art for other ventures as well … Ann Correia of Correia Creative.

4 Pts BBQ COncert Series 2013
- designed by Ann Correia - 

Mastering our First

It is hard to believe that on Sunday, which is tomorrow, we will be back in the studio having our first CD mastered.  We are extremely excited to have Eric Ferguson, yes the "Eric Ferguson" mastering our 6 original song offering.  Thinking back on the past year of work, time, and effort we all have put into this, one can't help but wonder how it all came to this point.  Wonder no more as it all boils down to practice, practice, practice, the definitive answer to the tourists question to the grizzled New Yorker "how do you get to Carnegie Hall?"  NEVAH has been blessed to have Andrew Clifford from Main Street Music Studios as our recording engineer along with the help of his intern Josh Meyers, who happens to be our banjo player's son, lend their expertise and "young ears" to help edit and polish our original material.  To that point a funny thing happened on the way to this end in the studio when our Bass player, me, mentioned to Andrew that I thought we had left out a shaker percussive track on "I Lean Left, You Lean Right."  So Andrew quickly cues up that song and plays it and both he and Josh look at me quizzically and say 'THE SHAKER IS THERE."  I turn to our flute player, Ed, and ask him "do you hear it?" A big grin comes across his face and he says "no I don't."  As good engineers do, to placate the artists, they kept increasing the volume on that track until we could hear it.  Well, lo and behold it was apparent that our 60 year old ears had lost some of that "high end" range that our younger cohorts still have.  Thankfully they were quick to point out to us that the VU meters were pegging out, needless to say we deferred to their judgement on the shaker level.  This truly has been a labor of "love of music" and we can only hope that the recording catches the essence of what makes "NEVAH NEVAH," fun, fun, fun, and most of all not taking ourselves too seriously.  Stay tuned for our long anticipated "CD RELEASE PARTY" date in response to the many requests we have had from people at our performances when asked "do you have any CD's for sale?" to which we always responded tongue in cheek "we have some Beach Boys, Barry Manilow, CSN&Y in our cars if you want to wait a second."

NEVAH Waiting to Play The AHA Heart Ball

Less than 24 Hours ago NEVAH was at the American Heart Association 14th Annual Northern Maine Heart Ball … waiting to perform.

Here's a "group" shot including our sound guy "Josh" - about 45 minutes before taking the stage.

LtoR - Josh (Sound Dude)-Phil-Dick-Jack-Hal-Eric-Ed-Larry-Richard
The NEVAH Band